Shloka 28
Aṣṭāvakra–Kahoda Upākhyāna: Śvetaketu’s Āśrama, Sarasvatī, and the Origin of Aṣṭāvakra
न विद्यते यदा मांसं कपोतेन सम॑ धृतम् । तत उत्कृत्तमांसोडसावारुरोह स्वयं तुलाम्,किंतु दूसरे पलड़ेमें रखा हुआ कबूतर उस मांसकी अपेक्षा अधिक भारी निकला, तब महाराज उशीनरने पुनः अपना मांस काटकर चढ़ाया। इस प्रकार बार-बार करनेपर भी जब वह मांस कबूतरके बराबर न हुआ, तब सारा मांस काट लेनेके पश्चात् वे स्वयं ही तराजूपर चढ़ गये
na vidyate yadā māṁsaṁ kapotena samaṁ dhṛtam | tata utkṛttamāṁso 'sāv āruroha svayaṁ tulām |
ローマシャは言った。「切り取った肉が鳩の重さに及ばぬとき、その王は—幾度も自らの肉を断ってなお—ついに自分自身で秤に乗った。」
लोगमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as steadfast protection and compassion: when a vow to shelter the weak conflicts with personal safety, the righteous king chooses self-sacrifice rather than abandon the one who sought refuge.
In the famous Śibi/Uśīnara episode, the king tries to compensate for a pigeon’s life by placing his own flesh on a scale. When the flesh still does not balance the pigeon’s weight, he finally steps onto the scale himself, offering his entire body to uphold his promise.